Dominica Groups Criticise Pierre, Mitchell Over DLP Support

Two organisations, Civic Vibes and the Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC), have criticised Prime Ministers Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia and Dickon Mitchell of Grenada for their attendance and remarks at the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Delegates Conference held on November 10, 2024, in Vielle Case, Dominica.

Both organisations expressed concerns over the Prime Ministers’ comments and their perceived disregard for ongoing calls for electoral reform in Dominica.

In a strongly worded letter, Civic Vibes called out the two leaders for their “divisive” and “inflammatory” remarks at the DLP event.

 The group took issue with repeated references to “enemies” and the idea of “protecting the victory,” suggesting those remarks dismissed the role of political opposition in Dominica. Civic Vibes stressed that opposition voices are a critical part of any healthy democracy, reminding the leaders that “the majority will have their way, but the minority must have their say.”

The letter further outlined what it said were seven key issues regarding the state of electoral governance in Dominica, including:

1. The absence of free and fair elections over the past four electoral cycles.
2. The lack of voter ID cards, despite repeated recommendations from international observers.
3. An inflated voter list that exceeds the country’s population.
4. The government’s failure to implement reforms recommended by Justice Dennis Byron, despite spending EC $750,000 on the review.
5. Allegations of bias within the Electoral Commission.

Civic Vibes called on Prime Ministers Pierre and Mitchell to respect Dominicans’ rights to democratic governance and to advocate for electoral reform in the region.

Prior to the conference, the ERC wrote a statement, criticising Prime Ministers Pierre and Mitchell for attending the DLP event while Dominica faces a deep political crisis. The group argued that their presence ignored the struggles of Dominicans fighting for electoral reform and only served to support what many see as Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s increasingly authoritarian rule.

The ERC pointed out that both Pierre and Mitchell were elected through fair and transparent elections in their countries—something Dominica has not experienced in years due to allegations of election irregularities..

The ERC also called on the people of Saint Lucia and Grenada to hold their leaders accountable and demand that they advocate for democratic principles and electoral reform in Dominica.